In addition to a short week, they’ll be shorthanded. The Jaguars have an NFL-high 27 players on injured reserve and will also be without defensive end Matt Roth (concussion) and wide receivers Cecil Shorts (hamstring) and Mike Thomas (concussion), all of whom were declared out on Wednesday.

And they’ll face an 8-5 Falcons team that is squarely in the playoff hunt and has the NFL’s fifth-best rushing defense to stop the Jaguars’ best weapon, running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

With the offense struggling, sometimes a touchdown on special teams or defense can provide a spark. Colin Cloherty’s touchdown of a fumbled punt led to 41 consecutive points last week. The Jaguars hope that carries over another week.

“That punt play was a good spark,” said offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. “It seemed like things were not going great. We were a little flat. That just kind of sparked everybody.”

It was also a positive day for Blaine Gabbert. Although the rookie quarterback threw two interceptions and fumbled twice against the Bucs, he threw two touchdown passes for the second game in a row and completed a 62-yard pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis that set up another touchdown.

Koetter said Gabbert is gradually improving his pocket presence.

“One of the toughest things for any quarterback is to stand in the heat of an NFL rush and know you are going to get hit, and stand in there and deliver. I think that’s a very difficult thing,” Koetter said.

“And I think that’s one of the biggest transitions that quarterbacks coming from the spread type system in college to a pocket system in the NFL [have to adjust to]. I think Blaine is making improvement in that area, but that’s an ongoing process. I know I use it a lot, but I think experience will cure whatever ailments might be there.”

He said Gabbert showed some other good signs, especially during a touchdown drive at the end of the first half.

“I thought he did maybe his best of the year as far as standing in there,” Koetter said. “He wasn’t always throwing to his No. 1 receiver. He found his check downs a couple of times. That was actually a check down to Maurice for the touchdown. What Blaine lacks is experience.”

Both teams are on a short week, but the Jaguars have the added disadvantage of having to travel. Interim coach Mel Tucker said the players seemed to be handling the challenge well.

“The guys seemed to be dialed in,” he said. “They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to. These guys are professionals. They know their bodies are their business and we have to get ready to go.”

As for continually having to plug in new players each week, Tucker said, “I tell the players this all the time. If you passed the evaluation from [general manager] Gene Smith and you wind up in this building because of who you are and what you’ve done, we feel like you can play.”

Several will have that opportunity Thursday — with a new owner looking on.